Drug supporting anchor

ABSTRACT

A drug supporting anchor for insertion and retention in body cavities including an elongated member having a drug support surface with a spiral configuration for supporting a drug to be administered, and the combination of a drug supporting anchor as described above with a drug supported thereon in either strip form or as a uniform layer. A method for inserting a flexible spiral anchor having a drug supported thereon in a body cavity including stretching the anchor to reduce the diameter thereof, inserting the anchor in the body cavity and releasing the stretched anchor to permit the anchor to return to the original diameter after insertion.

United States Patent [191 Banford et 31.

1 1 July 1, 1975 1 1 DRUG SUPPORTING ANCHOR [73] Assignee: AbbottLaboratories, North Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Jan. 14, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 433,062

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 181,007,Sept. 16, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 128/260; 128/130 [51] Int. Cl A6lm 31/00; A6lf 5/46 [58]Field of Search 128/127, 130, 131, 260,

128/285, 266, 269, 270, 271, 263, 128, 272; 30/351; 24/73 B, 123 B, 123F, 129 B 3,492,755 2/1970 Sundblad 43/43.]3

3,545,439 12/1970 Duncan 1281260 3,561,438 2/1971 Canel 3,572,341 3/1971Glassman 128/285 3,598,115 8/1971 Horne, Jr 128/130 3,625,214 12/1971Higuchi 128/260 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 834,446 5/1960 UnitedKingdom 24/129 B Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet AssistantExaminer.l. C. McGowan Attorney, Agent, or FirmSherman & Shalloway [5 7ABSTRACT A drug supporting anchor for insertion and retention in bodycavities including an elongated member having a drug support surfacewith a spiral configuration for supporting a drug to be administered,and the combination of a drug supporting anchor as described above witha drug supported thereon in either strip form or as a uniform layer. Amethod for inserting a flexible spiral anchor having a drug supportedthereon in a body cavity including stretching the anchor to reduce thediameter thereof, inserting the anchor in the body cavity and releasingthe stretched anchor to permit the anchor to return to the originaldiameter after insertion.

17 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures DRUG SU PPORTING ANCHOR This is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 181,007, filed Sept. 16, 1971, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention pertains to pharmaceutical an chors for insertion in bodycavities and, more particularly, to such anchors for intravaginalinsertion.

2. Dicussion of the Prior Art It is desirable to treat mammals with theuse of slow release drugs inserted in a body cavity; however, suchtreatment has presented a problem in the past due to the difficulty ofproper insertion of the drug, the retention of the drug in properposition within the body cavity and removal of any device utilized tosupport the drugs within the body cavity.

Slow release drugs are particularly useful for insertion in the vaginaof mammals, particularly for purposes of artificial insemination. Thatis, the drug may be, for example, a hormone utilized to control the heatcycle of a mammal whereby insertion of the slow release hormone stopsthe normal physiological heat cycle; and, when the hormone is removedfrom the mammal. physiological heat cycling will be initiated.Accordingly, the use of such hormone facilitates artificial inseminationin that a group of mammals may be artificially inseminated at the sametime.

In order to permit the application of such drugs in an effective manner,the drug must be inserted in the mammal in such a manner as to reducepain and injury therefrom at a minimum. Furthermore, the drug must bemaintained within the body cavity in such a manner that it cannot beexpelled either at the mammals volition or during normal physicalactivities and physiological body functions, as is the case when spongesare utilized to support such drugs, and the device utilized to supportthe drug must be easily removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a drug supporting anchor for insertion andretention in body cavities to facilitate release of a drug carriedthereby.

The present invention is generally characterized in a drug supportinganchor for insertion and retention in body cavities including anelongated member for supporting a drug to be administered, the elongatedmember having a drug support surface with a spiral configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize a drug stripspirally wound around an elongated member for insertion in body cavitiesin order to administer slow release drugs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an elongateddrug supporting member for insertion and retention in body cavities witha spiral configuration.

The present invention has another object in that a drug supportinganchor is made of a flexible material with a helical configuration topermit the diameter of the anchor to be reduced by longitudinalstretching to facilitate insertion of the anchor in a body cavity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofinserting a spiral drug supporting anchor in a body cavity by reducingthe diameter ofthe anchor during insertion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to utilize an anchorhaving a hollow spiral configuration with spaced coils to support a slowrelease drug for insertion in a body cavity.

A further object of the present invention is to utilize the combinationof a spiral drug supporting anchor having apertures therein and a stripof drug material having protrusions extending therefrom adapted to beinserted in the apertures in the anchor in order to facilitate theadministering of a slow release drug in a body cavity.

The present invention has another object in that the quantity or dosageof a drug to be administered in a body cavity is provided with anenlarged surface area by use of an anchor having a spiral configuration.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art arethat the drug support anchor of the present invention locks into thetissue within a body cavity to prevent expelling thereof, the drugsupport anchor is flexible to facilitate insertion into and removal froma body cavity, and an enlarged surface area for drug material isprovided to increase the dosage or quantity of drug which is capable ofbeing released.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken elevation of a drugsupporting anchor constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a broken elevation of a strip of drug material to be carriedby the anchor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a broken elevation of the anchor of FIG. 1 combined with thestrip of drug material of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a broken elevation of another embodiment of a combination of adrug supporting anchor and a strip of drug material of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a broken elevation of the combination of FIG. 4 after spiralcutting.

FIG. 6 is a broken elevation of a further embodiment of a combination ofa drug supporting anchor and a strip of drug material of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a broken elevation of the combination of FIG. 6 after spiraltwisting.

FIG. 8 is a broken elevation of a partially cut drug supporting anchoraccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation illustrating the coating of the anchor ofFIG. 8 with a drug material.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are elevations of modifications of the drugsupporting anchor of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an elevation of a flexible drug supporting anchor accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the anchor of FIG. 13 mounted on aninsertion rod.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of another embodiment of a drug supportinganchor according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the anchor of FIG. 15 mounted on aninsertion rod.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the anchor of FIG. 15 after insertionin a body cavity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A drug supporting anchor 20according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and iscomposed ofa strip of material 22 provided with a spiral or helicalconfiguration to define an elongated, hollow spiral member 24 havingspaced adjacent coils. Strip 22 has a longitudinal channel 26 formedtherein, and a plurality of spaced apertures 28 are centered in channel26. Anchor 20 may, for example, be formed of a strip of plasticapproximately 4mm. thick which is longitudinally cut to form channel 26and punched or bored to provide apertures 28 at 5cm. centers startingapproximately 1cm. from each end of the strip. The length and width ofthe strip will be determined by the surface area required for the drugto be administered and the shape and size of the body cavity into whichthe anchor is to be inserted. The grooved and punched strip is thenwrapped around a cylindrical mandrel to provide the hollow spiralconfiguration. The diameter of the spiral member 24 is determined inaccordance with the shape and size of the body cavity into which theanchor is to be inserted, and the pitch of the spiral configuration isdetermined by the surface area required for the drug to be administered.Of course, the anchor 20 could be formed in one or more steps by anyconventional method such as injection molding or extrusion.

A strip 30 of slow release drug material is illustrated in FIG. 2 and isformed with a width and length corresponding to the width of channel 26and the length of strip 22 of anchor 20, respectively. A plurality ofbutton-like protrusions or knobs 32 extend from strip 30 and are spacedaccording to the spacing between apertures 28 in anchor 20. Strip 30 maybe composed of any pharmaceutical or drug desired to be administered andcompatible slow release carrier. For example, when the anchors aredesigned for intravaginal placement, the drugs may include digitoxin,triiodothyronine, isoproterenol, atropine, histamine, nitrogen mustard,vitamin B pyrimethamine, hormonal substances, i.e., estrogenicsubstances, progestation substances, androgenic substances, e.g.,estradiol, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, cortisol,medroxyprogesterone acetate, melengestrol acetate, chlormadinone, andthe like as long as such drugs have the property of being capable ofpassage through the carrier. The carrier may be any slow or controlledrelease, drug-permeable polymeric material, such as organopolysiloxaneof the linear type converted to rubber by heat curing and known asdimethylpolysiloxane. Such drugs and slow release carriers of thesilicone rubber type are more fully described in US. Pat. No. 3,545,439,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The strip of drug material 30 is assembled with the anchor 20 asillustrated in FIG. 3 such that the strip of drug material is receivedwithin channel 26 with protrusions 32 extending through apertures 28. Byproviding the protrusions 32 with a knob-like or bulbous configuration,the strip of drug material 30 can be mounted on the anchor 20 with asnap-type action; and the strip of drug material will be firmly heldsuch that the drug material is not susceptible to being inadvertentlydetached from the anchor during insertion of the combination anchor anddrug material in a body cavity. Of course, the strip of drug material 30may be secured to the strip 22 prior to spiraling thereof to form member24, and any mating configuration may be utilized to fasten the drugstrip with the anchor. For instance, the drug strip can be provided withspaced apertures while the anchor has mating protrusions extendingtherefrom to be received in the apertures.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4wherein a relatively large diameter rod 34 has a strip of drug material36 similar to drug material 30 wrapped therearound to provide a spacedspiral configuration. The drug material may be secured to rod 34 in anysuitable manner such as by attachment means at the ends of the rod andstrip of drug material to provide a hook-and-eye or similar typefastening, or by means of a compatible adhesive or cement. Once thestrip of drug material 36 is properly positioned on the rod 34 the rodis spirally cut to provide a spiral groove 38 as illustrated in FIG. 5to form a helical land corresponding to the spacing between coils of thespiraled drug strip 36 defining a support surface for the drug strip.After cutting the combination anchor and drug strip will have a deepspiral configuration to thereby facilitate insertion and removal of thecombination anchor and drug strip and to provide a large surface areafor drug material.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6and 7 wherein an anchor for the drug material is formed of a solid,cylindrical, small diameter rod 40, and a strip of drug material 42similar to drug strip 30 is wrapped tightly around rod 40 with no gapstherebetween. The strip of drug material 42 may be secured to the rod 40in any suitable manner as mentioned above with respect to the embodimentof FIG. 4, and the combination anchor and drug strip is then twisted orspiraled around a suitable cylinder or other forming mandrel to providethe spiral configuration illustrated in FIG. 7.

An anchor 44 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and is formed from a hollowcylindrical tube 46 of high density polyethylene which is spirally cutto form an elongated helical member 48. The anchor 44 may be formed byplacing a pre-cut spiral metal sleeve around tube 46 such that tube 46may be cut in the same spiral form as the metal sleeve in a stencil-likefashion.

In order to coat the anchor 44 illustrated in FIG. 8 with a suitableslow release drug material, the drug and an appropriate slow releasecompound such as silicone adhesive rubber as described above withrespect to the drug strip of FIG. 2, are dissolved in a solvent such ascyclohexane. The cyclohexane solvent sufficiently dilutes the slowrelease compound to form a solution 50 which is supported in a container52, and anchor 44 is dipped into the solution such that the drug andslow release compound adhere to the helical member 48 on both the outerand inner surfaces thereof. After the anchor 44 is removed from thecontainer 52, the solvent evaporates to leave remaining anchor 44 coatedwith the silicone rubber impregnated slow release drug material in ahelical configuration.

Other embodiments of anchors according to the present invention areillustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and I2, and all of these anchors may becoated with a slow release drug material in the same manner as abovedescribed with respect to anchor 44 as shown in FIG. 9.

An anchor 54 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and has a hollow, elongatedhelical member 56 with flat outer and inner drug supporting surfaces 58and suitably respectively. Anchor 54 is desirably made of a plasticmaterial such as a transparent acrylic resin and may be suitaably formedby molding or extrusion processes as well as by winding or twistingaround a forming mandred.

An anchor 62, shown in FIG. II, has a hollow, elongated member 64;however, member 64 differs from the elongated member 56 of anchor 54 inthat member 64 has a double helical configuration. That is, body member64 includes a pair of spaced strips 66 and 68 joined at ends 70 and 72and having outer and inner drug supporting surfaces 74, 76, 78 and 80,respectively. In other words, anchor 60 differs from anchor 54 primarilyin that the flat strip forming the elongated member of anchor 54 isslotted in anchor 60.

The anchor 82 illustrated in FIG. 12 differs from anchors 54 and 60 inthat anchor 82 is formed of a tube of material which is twisted about amandrel to provide a helical configuration similar to rod 40 in theembodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

An especially advantageous embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. An anchor 84 has the same configurationas anchor 54; however, anchor 84 is made of a flexible material and hasa proximal end 86 with an aperture 88 therein and a distal end 90 shapedto receive the flat end of a movable arm 92 of an insertion rod 94.Insertion rod 94 includes a stationary sleeve 96 which slidably carriesmovable arm 92 and pin 98 extending therefrom and adapted to be receivedin aperture 88 in proximal end 86 of anchor 84. Anchor 84 may be coatedwith a slow release drug material by dipping as described with respectto FIG. 1 or a strip of slow release drug material may be secured toanchor 84 in the manner described relative to FIGS. I through 7.

A method for inserting anchor 84 in a body cavity such as the vaginaincludes the step of disposing anchor 84 over insertion rod 94 with pin98 engaging aperture 88. Arm 92 is then moved out of sleeve 94 to engagedistal end 90; and, thereafter, as arm 92 is moved further out of sleeve96, anchor 84 is stretched as shown in FIG. I4 such that the diameter ofanchor 84 is reduced. The anchor and drug material carried thereby arethen inserted in the vagina with a twisting or screwing motion tofacilitate insertion; and once the anchor is properly inserted, proximalend 86 is disengaged from pin 98 such that the insertion rod may beremoved leaving the anchor in the vagina. Any suitable means may beutilized to effectively reduce the diameter of the anchor by stretching;and, similarly, the means illustrated for detachably securing the anchorto the movable and stationary portions of the insertion rod are of anexemplary nature and other suitable means may be utilized therefor. Theshape of distal end 90, however, is particularly advantageous in that itprovides firm engagement of the end of movable arm 92 while notrequiring specific detachment for removal of the insertion rod.

In order to remove anchor 84 or any of the other anchors of the presentinvention, the lips of the vulva are opened and the anchor is withdrawnsuch as by pulling a previously attached string which is left hangingoutside of the body cavity after insertion.

Another embodiment of a drug supporting anchor 100 in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 15, I6, and 17 with aprecursor strip 102 illustrated in FIG. 15. Strip I02 has an elongatedflat configuration with parallel side edges 104 and 106 of equal lengthterminating at end portions I08 and 110. Ends 108 and H0 have thegeneral configuration of isosceles triangles and are oriented onopposite sides of the strip. End portions I08 and H0 have inclined edgesI12 and 114 making apex angles 116 and 118 with side edges I04 and 106of 45, respectively. Near the tip of apexes I16 and 118 are disposedapertures 120 and 122, respectively, which are utilized in deformingstrip 102 as will be described hereinafter. Strip 102 is made of aflexible, resilient material which will spring back to its originalconfiguration after deformation.

Anchor may be coated with a slow release drug material by dipping or maycarry a strip of slow release drug material as described above. In anycase, anchor 100 initially has the flat, linear configurationillustrated in FIG. 15 and will, accordingly, try to return to the flat,linear configuration after being deformed into a helical configuration.

In order to insert the drug supporting anchor 100, the strip 102 iswound around an insertion rod 124 having a pin 126 extending from adistal end thereof and a pin 128 extending from a proximal end which hasa handle 130 extending therefrom and mechanically linked with pins 126and 128 such that the pins may be withdrawn into insertion rod 124. Tofacilitate winding of strip 102 around insertion rod 124 as illustratedin FIG. 16, the aperture in end portion 108 may be positioned to receivepin 126, and the insertion rod is rotated about its longitudinal axiswhile end portion 110 is held stationary. Once the proper number ofcoils have been fon'ned in the strip, pin 128 is inserted in aperture122 to hold the strip 102 in a tightly coiled deformed configuration.

The drug supporting anchor 100 is inserted in the vagina or other bodycavity by grasping the handle and inserting the combination anchor andinsertion rod. Once the drug supporting anchor I00 is properlypositioned within the vagina, the anchor is released by withdrawing pins126 and 128 such that the strip 102 tries to return to its initial flat,linear configuration; however, the walls 10 of the vagina will preventreturn to the initial configuration as illustrated in FIG. 17. Thus,drug supporting anchor 100 will be retained in the vagina with a helicalconfiguration having a diameter greater than the diameter duringinsertion, and the spaced coils will lock into the tissue to resistexpelling of the anchor. The 45 incline at the end portions 108 and 110allow appreciably better retention in the vagina than anchors withsubstantially rounded ends; that is, apexes 116 and 118 increase thelocking action with the tissue.

A string 132 is tied to anchor 100 through aperture 122, as illustratedin FIG. 17, such that the anchor may be easily removed from the vaginaby pulling string I32 which hangs outside the vagina. Strip 102 returnsto its initial flat, linear configuration as the anchor is removed fromthe vagina to facilitate such removal.

The anchors illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 7, 8, 10 through I3 and 15 may beconstructed of compatible nonabsorbable plastic or metal materials.Examples of such materials include transparent acrylic resins such asthose known commercially as Plexiglas and Lucite, high or low densitypolyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethyleneand propylene, linear polyamides (nylons), polystyrene, polycarbonateand metals such as stainless steel or high carbon steel. Flat strips ofhigh carbon and stainless steel have inherently a spring or flexibilityand are. accordingly, extremely advantageous for use with theembodiments of FIGS. 13 and 15.

As previously mentioned, the drug material is combined with a slowrelease compound such as dimethylpolysiloxane or a block copolymer ofdimethylopolysiloxane and polycarbonate. and the slow release drugmaterial for any of the above described an chors may be applied theretoeither as a strip of drug material or by dipping as illustrated in FIG.9.

The spaced helical configuration of the anchors of the present inventionprovides an increased surface area for drug material and excellentretention within the vagina since the spacing between adjacent coilspermits the anchor to lock into the tissue thereby requiring twistingfor removal. The flexible anchor of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and areparticularly advantageous due to the reduced diameter caused bystretching which facilitates both insertion and removal and theembodiment of FIG. 15 is further advantageous due to ease ofmanufacture. low cost and increased retention characteristics.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations andchanges in detail, all matter described above or shown in theaccompanying drawings is intended to be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A drug supporting anchor for insertion and retention in body cavitiescomprising an elongated member defined by a plurality of spaced heliceshaving flat peripheral outer surfaces defining a helical drug supportand formed of a flat strip of flexible material, said elongated memberhaving at its distal end means for engaging the end of an insertionmeans and at its proximal end means for attachment with said insertionmeans whereby said elongated member can be stretched to reduce thediameter thereof.

2. The drug supporting anchor as recited in claim 1 wherein saidflexible material is metal.

3. A drug supporting anchor for insertion and retention in body cavitiescomprising an elongated member defined by a plurality of spaced heliceshaving flat peripheral outer surfaces defining a helical drug supportsurface and formed of a flat strip of flexible material, said elongatedmember including a slow release drug supported on said helical drugsupport surface.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said elongated memberis solid with raised helical lands defining a helical drug supportsurface, and said drug strip is supported on said drug support surface.

5. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said elongated membercarries attachment means and said drug strip carries engaging meanshaving a configuration to mate with said attachment means, said engagingmeans being engaged with said attachment means to secure said drug stripto said elongated member.

6. The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein said attachment meansincludes a plurality of apertures spaced along said elongated member andsaid engaging means includes a plurality of protrusions extending fromsaid drug strip and received in said apertures.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said elongated memberis formed of a flat strip of material having a helical configuration andan outer surface defining a drug support surface, and said drug strip isaligned with said drug support surface.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein said flat strip ofmaterial has a channel recessed in said outer surface and said aperturesare centered in said channel.

9. A combination for insertion and retention in body cavities foradministering drugs comprising an elongated member having a spiralconfiguration, said elongated member being formed of a flat strip offlexible material in the form of a helical strip having a flat outersurface defining a drug support surface. a layer of slow release drugmaterial supported on said drug support surface, a proximal end and adistal end of said strip of flexible material carrying means forengaging the end of an insertion means and said proximal end of saidstrip of flexible material carrying means for attachment with theinsertion means whereby said elongated member may be stretched to reducethe diameter thereof.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated memberis formed of a strip of material having flat inner and outer surfaces todefine said drug support surface.

11. In combination, an insertion rod having a distal end and a proximalend. an anchor for supporting a drug including an elongate strip offlexible. resilient material spirally wound around said insertion rod toform a plurality of spaced coils having flat peripheral drug supportingsurfaces, said strip of material engaging said distal and proximal endsto have a spiral configuration. and a slow release drug material carriedon said flat peripheral drug supporting surfaces.

12. The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said strip of materialis metal and has a flat linear initial configuration whereby said stripexpands when released from said insertion rod.

13. The invention as recited in claim 12 wherein said insertion rod hasa first pin extending from said distal end and a second pin extendingfrom said proximal end. and said strip has apertures in opposite endsthereof removably engaging said first and second pins.

14. The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein said opposite ends ofsaid strip have a generally triangular configuration.

15. The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said strip has parallelside edges and said ends have inclined edges making angles of 45 withsaid side edges.

16. The drug supporting anchor recited in claim 3 wherein said slowrelease drug is diposed in a coating on said helical drug supportsurface.

17. The drug supporting anchor recited in claim 3 wherein. saidelongated member has apertures at its distal and proximal ends forattachment of said elongated member to an insertion means.

1. A drug supporting anchor for insertion and retention in body cavitiescomprising an elongated member defined by a plurality of spaced heliceshaving flat peripheral outer surfaces defining a helical drug supportand formed of a flat strip of flexible material, said elongated memberhaving at its distal end means for engaging the end of an insertionmeans and at its proximal end means for attachment with said insertionmeans whereby said elongated member can be stretched to reduce thediameter thereof.
 2. The drug supporting anchor as recited in claim 1wherein said flexible material iS metal.
 3. A drug supporting anchor forinsertion and retention in body cavities comprising an elongated memberdefined by a plurality of spaced helices having flat peripheral outersurfaces defining a helical drug support surface and formed of a flatstrip of flexible material, said elongated member including a slowrelease drug supported on said helical drug support surface.
 4. Thecombination as recited in claim 3 wherein said elongated member is solidwith raised helical lands defining a helical drug support surface, andsaid drug strip is supported on said drug support surface.
 5. Thecombination as recited in claim 3 wherein said elongated member carriesattachment means and said drug strip carries engaging means having aconfiguration to mate with said attachment means, said engaging meansbeing engaged with said attachment means to secure said drug strip tosaid elongated member.
 6. The combination as recited in claim 5 whereinsaid attachment means includes a plurality of apertures spaced alongsaid elongated member and said engaging means includes a plurality ofprotrusions extending from said drug strip and received in saidapertures.
 7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein saidelongated member is formed of a flat strip of material having a helicalconfiguration and an outer surface defining a drug support surface, andsaid drug strip is aligned with said drug support surface.
 8. Thecombination as recited in claim 7 wherein said flat strip of materialhas a channel recessed in said outer surface and said apertures arecentered in said channel.
 9. A combination for insertion and retentionin body cavities for administering drugs comprising an elongated memberhaving a spiral configuration, said elongated member being formed of aflat strip of flexible material in the form of a helical strip having aflat outer surface defining a drug support surface, a layer of slowrelease drug material supported on said drug support surface, a proximalend and a distal end of said strip of flexible material carrying meansfor engaging the end of an insertion means and said proximal end of saidstrip of flexible material carrying means for attachment with theinsertion means whereby said elongated member may be stretched to reducethe diameter thereof.
 10. The combination as recited in claim 9 whereinsaid elongated member is formed of a strip of material having flat innerand outer surfaces to define said drug support surface.
 11. Incombination, an insertion rod having a distal end and a proximal end, ananchor for supporting a drug including an elongate strip of flexible,resilient material spirally wound around said insertion rod to form aplurality of spaced coils having flat peripheral drug supportingsurfaces, said strip of material engaging said distal and proximal endsto have a spiral configuration, and a slow release drug material carriedon said flat peripheral drug supporting surfaces.
 12. The invention asrecited in claim 11 wherein said strip of material is metal and has aflat linear initial configuration whereby said strip expands whenreleased from said insertion rod.
 13. The invention as recited in claim12 wherein said insertion rod has a first pin extending from said distalend and a second pin extending from said proximal end, and said striphas apertures in opposite ends thereof removably engaging said first andsecond pins.
 14. The invention as recited in claim 13 wherein saidopposite ends of said strip have a generally triangular configuration.15. The invention as recited in claim 14 wherein said strip has parallelside edges and said ends have inclined edges making angles of 45* withsaid side edges.
 16. The drug supporting anchor recited in claim 3wherein said slow release drug is diposed in a coating on said helicaldrug support surface.
 17. The drug supporting anchor recited in claim 3wherein said elongated member has apertures at its distal and proximalends fOr attachment of said elongated member to an insertion means.